Be Honest

An honest answeris like a kiss on the lips.

Proverbs 24:26 (NIV)

A truly honest answer—the contrast would be a dishonest answer or a half-honest answer. The Bible exhorts us to “speak the truth in love,” and yet we sometimes don’t.

Honesty—actually, this is a word that we really don’t hear very often. As I read the dictionary definitions, they were so beautiful and the meaning so excellent, I felt it would stir us to read them.

Honesty means

• Honorable in principles, intentions, and actions.
• Sincere and frank, like an honest face.
• Gained fairly, like honest wealth.
• Genuine, truthful, and creditable. And when it applies to an honest person, it means “worthy of being trusted, truthful.” An honest witness gives truthful testimony.

Since contrasts reinforce our understanding, let’s look at words that describe the concept of dishonesty. It means “dishonorable, unjust, unfair, tricky, deceptive, deceitful, misleading, elusive, false, and hypocritical.”

An honest answer, as our proverb says, “is like a kiss on the lips.”

In a world so full of the false, may the Lord enable us to live and speak the truth. “And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father” (Colossians 3:17, NKJV).

Make It Personal . . . Live It Out!

As Christians, we sometimes put on a veneer. We never let others know we are weak, that we’re hurting, that we make mistakes. This is dishonest. No, I don’t think we should go around airing our dirty laundry, but pretending that you have it all together isn’t good or necessary. It can make someone else feel that she is the only loser around. If she were a good Christian like you, she would never struggle. It can be a huge comfort to someone going through hard times that we are honest and let them know we’ve gone through similar trials without flying colors. Then you can pray with them, going together to the Cross, to be honest with God.

One Year Bible Reading

Jeremiah 6:16–8:7; Colossians 2:8-23; Psalm 78:1-31; Proverbs 24:26